Blockchain Tech Company GoldenArk CEO Mitch Ngo Enters Film Industry In $10 Million Deal With Cherry Blossom Studios Founder Kareem Davis

EXCLUSIVE: Sean Ryan Fox (Henry Danger) and Catherine Daddario (Oak) will lead the cast of the indie high school drama The Midway Point, marking the feature directorial debut of writer-director Lucca Vieira, which has wrapped production in Los Angeles. Others in the ensemble include 2019 Honorary Academy Award winner Wes Studi (The Last of the Mohicans), Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Thora Birch (Ghost World) and Julie Benz (Dexter).

Wilson Chapman editor Real estate agency Hudson Pacific has acquired soundstage and production services provider Quixote Studios for $360 million. Established in 1995 by Mikel Elliott, Quixote Studios is one of the biggest providers of sound stages and production services in the entertainment industry. The company helps to rent soundstages, cast trailers, trucks, lighting equipment and other infrastructure necessary for production. Quixote has 325 employees, long-term lease rights to 23 soundstages in Los Angeles and works for notable clients including Disney, HBO, Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount and NBCUniversal. Under the deal, Elliott will remain in a leadership position at Quixote. In addition to Quixote, Hudson Pacific also owns Sunset Studios rental company, which mangages 60 stages in five studio lots around Los Angeles and in the United Kingdom.

EXCLUSIVE: Delhi Crime Season 2 showrunner and director Tanuj Chopra has signed with WME.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The delayed 46th edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival wrapped Wednesday with the award of 13 prizes for its young filmmaker, documentary and shorts competitions. Hailed by the jury as “one of this year’s most distinguished films both creatively and artistically,” Qiu Jiongjiong’s “A New Old Play” was named best film for the Young Cinema Competition (Chinese Language). “A New Old Play” is a tale of a family of Sichuan Opera artists living through a tumultuous era. It also collected the FIPRESCI Prize, with the jury commending the film for “its masterful approach and inventive visual style.”  In the global category, Palestinian director Maha Haj’s “Mediterranean Fever” was chosen as the Firebird Award winner for being “an all-rounded gem that is at once a thriller, social comedy, and odd couple bromance.” 

Carson Burton Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jimmie Allen, Zach Williams and Miley Cyrus have been cast as guest stars in NBC’s “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.” The film sees Parton in the lead role and also stars Tom Everett Scott, Ana Gasteyer and Angel Parker. “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas” is a movie musical about the making of a network TV special. The film follows the backstage story and on-camera results of Parton’s desire to share “mountain magic” at Dollywood during Christmas. When three characters known as the “Three Wise Mountain Men” appear to Parton, she finds herself on a private journey into her past. By the time her special is set to air, a newly inspired Parton finds that she has renewed understanding of the magic of Christmas.

Ellise Shafer A series of protests over the prevelance of sexual abuse in the entertainment industry have been staged in front of prominent music companies in recent weeks, and the efforts have been gaining attention on social media via actor Alexa Nikolas. A former cast member of the 2005-2008 Nickelodeon series “Zoey 101,” Nikolas’ megaphone includes more than 255,000 followers on Instagram as well as the public support of such activist groups as the One Hundred Percenters. Her own organization is called Eat Predators, and its supporters have gathered in front of Warner Music Group’s Los Angeles headquarters on July 28; Red Light Management’s L.A. office on July 21; and Sony Music’s Culver City lot last week where about a dozen protesters held signs referencing artists affiliated with the label group who have been accused of sexual misconduct and abuse.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A bill to extend California’s film and TV tax incentive program through 2030 has been placed on hold, as lawmakers continue to work on elements of the bill, including a new diversity mandate. The state’s $330 million tax credit for Hollywood is currently set to expire in 2025. Sen. Anthony Portantino has worked on a bill, SB 485, that would add another five years to the program. Last week, a new provision was added requiring that productions that receive a tax credit adopt hiring goals that are “broadly reflective” of the state’s demographics. Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, D-Los Angeles, led the effort to include that provision, which also adds an extra 4% subsidy for projects that meet their diversity targets.

Arden Cho rocks a bold blue suit for the premiere of her new Netflix series, Partner Track, in Los Angeles on Tuesday night (August 23).

The boxing match that sparked a thousand memes! Internet stars Bryce Hall and Austin McBroom’s longtime feud came to a head in June 2021 when they finally stepped into the ring and sorted out their issues. However, the drama between them lasted longer than just a few rounds.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer“Joker” was a very New York movie — so much so that tourists flocked to the Bronx staircase where Joaquin Phoenix danced in a montage.But the sequel, “Joker: Folie á Deux,” will shoot in Los Angeles, thanks to $12.6 million in tax credits to Warner Bros. from the state of California.The California Film Commission announced its latest round of credit allocations on Monday morning, awarding $93.7 million to 18 projects.

HBO has released the second teaser for music industry drama series The Idol, starring Lily-Rose Depp and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. (Watch it above.)

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterCalifornia is poised to add a diversity requirement to its $330 million tax incentive for film and TV production, as lawmakers seek to use their leverage to make the industry better reflect the state’s demographics.Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign a bill, SB 485, that will extend the tax credit through 2030.

EJ Panaligan editorKCET, the Los Angeles public broadcaster, announced the student finalists and eight industry judges who will take part of the 23rd Fine Cut Festival of Films. The festival will broadcast as a series of six one-hour episodes starting Wednesday, Sept.

TMI! Rachel Bilson didn’t hold back about her relationship with Bill Hader — revealing the part of his anatomy she had a hard time leaving behind.

Millie Bobby Brown talks about some of the downsides to being a child star in a candid new interview with Allure.

from Shawn Mendes with a new boyfriend who certainly knows his way around the dating game: He's literally the CEO of a dating app.Austin Kevitch, 31, is one of the founders of , a culturally-Jewish (but not Jewish-only) dating app with “ridiculously high standards” that has a sense of humor and a sophisticated bent. It's also exclusive, as in you have to apply, as in I downloaded it after I got vaccinated and didn't get in and I'm low-key still salty about it because I'd make an amazing girlfriend for any boy or goy lucky enough to have me…sorry, off-topic.Kevitch and the former Fifth Harmony member, who is now a coach on The Voice, were , when they were spotted taking a walk in Los Angeles.

Jared Goff is entering his second year as the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions and it will all be documented on the HBO series Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Detroit Lions. The documentary from HBO Sports and NFL Films will premiere its 17th season starting Tuesday, August 9 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and streaming on HBO Max. A trailer for the five-episode season was released showcasing the iconic theme song as head coach Dan Campbell’s voice is overheard.

Roger E. Mosley, best known as the helicopter pilot Theodore “T.C.” Calvin in the CBS television series Magnum P.I., died early Sunday morning. No cause of death was given.